Oldest Christian Denomination

[Reno Raines]

hello all
I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

 

[FireDragon76]

hello all
I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

That depends on how you think of what "the Church" is supposed to be.

 

[Dave-W]

The oldest "denomination" was the Jewish believers in Jerusalem which started in Acts 2. Called the "Sect of the Nazoreans," they were outwardly indistinguishable from their Traditional Jewish neighbors. They were regulars in the Temple and synagogues.

Unfortunately, they died out in the 4th or 5th century due to them being declared "heretics" circa 300 ad. No place in the gentile church and no place in Jewish society.

 

[Daniel9v9]

Same as the above, it depends on how you define it and it's really a discussion in itself. However, I suppose you can make a distinction between who has orthodox traits (particularly similar liturgy) and who has not. For this I would point to Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican as quite prominent. They all claim some historical lineage. But I think we should view this with great caution - for many reasons - but hopefully it can help paint some kind of mental map over the landscape of Christendom.

PS: I live in Osaka as well

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

The oldest in existence today is probably the Orthodox churches (I am including the Copts, Orientals and Eastern churches)

 

[Antig]

Orthodox, Catholic

 

[Reno Raines]

Ok thanks for your replies. I'm into eastern and oriental orthodoxy.
@ Daniel , where abouts in Osaka ? I'm in the south, near Sakai city

 

[messianist]

Body of Christ the only church.

 

[Tom 1]

hello all
I was wondering what the oldest Christian church is. From my research on the internet it seems to be the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Is that true?

I read somewhere that the Ethiopian Coptic church considers itself the oldest, tracing back to the Ethiopian eunuch baptised by Philip. I think I read that in Beasley-Murray’s book baptism in the NT

 

[Light of the East]

Body of Christ the only church.

Uh huh.....so where is that body? Lutheranism. Methodist? SDA? Messianic? Where exactly do I find that body so I can be a part of it?

 

[messianist]

Hi light of the east.

Church is not something we attend, it is something we are made apart of when we are saved.

1 Corinthians 12:27
Verse Concepts

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Uh huh.....so where is that body? Lutheranism. Methodist? SDA? Messianic? Where exactly do I find that body so I can be a part of it?

In here...

 

[Reno Raines]

What's the difference between "the church" and "Christianity"?

 

[Light of the East]

Hi light of the east.

Church is not something we attend, it is something we are made apart of when we are saved.

1 Corinthians 12:27
Verse Concepts

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

Nice way to dodge my question.

Ray Sutton, in his book THAT YOU MAY PROSPER - Dominion by Covenant, states that unless there is visible authority on earth, the Lord has no authority. There is no such thing as the "invisible Church made up of true believers." You do not find that concept anywhere in the Scriptures. In both the Old and New Covenants, the Church is understood as a visible body of assembled believers under a duly ordained authority structure.

Now once again, where do you find the Church? Where has God placed His worship, His authority, and the places that these are carried out?

 

[Albion]

Uh huh.....so where is that body? Lutheranism. Methodist? SDA? Messianic? Where exactly do I find that body so I can be a part of it?

Yep, they're all part of it (according to that definition of the church of Christ).

This (above) is a never-ending debate, as we all know; but I think that the OP was written to ask about the age of the oldest church ecclesia or institutional church. As the answers already given have indicated, it could be one of the churches now part of Eastern Orthodoxy or it could be one of the other ancient ones (The Ethiopian church, for example).

BUT we ought also to consider that when a schism or split occurs in any church body, it is not the case that one of the parts must be considered a new church. That's always the claim made by one of the "halves" of the former body--usually the one that retains the original legal name--but it's more a claim than a reality. I would not, for example, say that either the RCC or the EO is a church that only came into existence in 1054 on the occasion of the Great Schism.

 

[Light of the East]

What's the difference between "the church" and "Christianity"?

Christianity was first known as "The Way." It was not even established as the "Christian Religion" until much later. The first groups of people who followed "The Way" were Jews who saw that Christ was the promised Messiah and Savior of the world. They saw following The Way as a continuation of Judaism rather than as a separate religion called Christianity.

Judaism and Christianity are moral and philosophical constructs given to us by God in order for us to seek and find Him, and to obtain the original goal of mankind which was lost in the Garden of Eden. As we follow those teachings, which were first given to us by in the Law of the Old Covenant and then perfected and fulfilled in Christ, we are changed from beings who easily follow sin to beings who begin to love God and love others. The Law of God was reduced to two great commandments, which are the heart of all that we do - love God supremely, and love your neighbor as yourself. God is love and as we become beings of love by our union with Him, we become like Him. That is the goal.

The Church is the family of God. If you read the Bible, you will notice there is much familial language in it. God is our Father. The Blessed Virgin is our Mother. Jesus is the Elder Brother (the Covenant First-Born and Head of Covenant). We are called brothers and sisters (but unfortunately we don't always treat each other with such familial care).

The Church is the place where God establishes that worship which has a distinct purpose: that it shows through symbols the invisible Kingdom of God.

Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

When God established the Church in the Old Covenant, He gave to Moses specific instructions on how to build the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the laws regulating worship, and was we see in Heb. 8:5, He warned mankind not to tamper with those things by introducing man-made ideas. This carries over into the New Covenant where each Divine Liturgy is a picture - a symbol and type - of heavenly things.

The Church is also the body which carries out the authority of God on earth. It establishes proper worship and defines what is truth and what is heresy. Without that, mankind is left bereft of instruction and creates his own God, His own Jesus, and his own worship. The multitude of various different "worship" forms is a mute testimony to this truth. You have everything from the Jimmy Swaggart Jesus Jazz Cafe to the High Anglican Liturgy and all forms in between, each calling themselves "worship." This is what man does without the guidance of the Church which Christ established on earth.

So Christianity is The Way....the way we seek God and find Him. It is the principles of the life of a God-seeker. The Church is the authority which aids men and women in eschewing that which is false, finding that which is true, disciplining the family of God, and gathering together for worship.

I hope that helps a bit. Perhaps someone else can add to it.

 

[Albion]

What's the difference between "the church" and "Christianity"?

Christianity is the religion. The church refers to either the local assembly, to a denomination, or to the whole of the followers of the religion.

 

[Light of the East]

Yep, they're all part of it (according to that definition of the church of Christ).

This (above) is a never-ending debate, as we all know; but I think that the OP was written to ask about the age of the oldest church ecclesia or institutional church. As the answers already given have indicated, it could be one of the churches now part of Eastern Orthodoxy or it could be one of the other ancient ones (The Ethiopian church, for example).

BUT we ought also to consider that when a schism or split occurs in any church body, it is not the case that one of the parts must be considered a new church. That's always the claim made by one of the "halves" of the former body--usually the one that retains the original legal name--but it's more a claim than a reality. I would not, for example, say that either the RCC or the EO is a church that only came into existence in 1054 on the occasion of the Great Schism.

There is only one Church. The words translated from Hebrew and Greek mean "congregation" or "called out ones" or "gathering." It is the family of God, His people. There was never any idea of more than one Church until the Protestant Reformation. Then the Reformers began to redefine the word "Church" to excuse their rebellion against Rome. Of course, many of us who are Orthodox don't consider Rome to be "THE Church" either.

The Protestant idea of an "invisible Church made up of true believers" (you find this in the Westminster Confessions) is a farce. It was made up by Calvin and the Calvinists to calm the fears of the ignorant rabble who in their hearts felt that leaving Rome was leaving the Church and God.

It is only a never-ending debate because men are A.) kept in darkness regarding the true nature of the Church, as I was for 25 years of being a Protestant B.) rebellious by nature and want their own way C.) led by men who lie to them about what the Church is D.) do not understand the Bible and listen instead with "itching ears" to those who mislead them.

Sorry if that is a bit strong for you. You are welcome to try to disprove this if you wish.

 

[Albion]

There is only one Church. The words translated from Hebrew and Greek mean "congregation" or "called out ones" or "gathering." It is the family of God, His people. There was never any idea of more than one Church until the Protestant Reformation.

Protestants would insist that there still isn't more than one church, however.

This is all a question of how the word is to be used.

Some denominations like to claim that it applies to them alone (half a dozen or so good examples come to mind, including yours); some balance different uses of the word (local assembly vs. the sum of all adherents); and yet others will insist that it ultimately, and most accurately, refers to the sum of all true believers of all times and places who are known only to God.

 

[messianist]

I'm sorry, you felt I was avoiding your question, but scripture says that the body of Christ are the church, there for those people who are saved are the church his people, not a building or a place of attendance, there is much more scripture that backs this up.

yashua is the teacher he guides and leads his people in all truths, worship is done in spirit and in truth.